Attachable and detachable head for a toothbrush

ABSTRACT

An attachable and detachable head section for a toothbrush is provided. A main advantage of this invention is to enable a user to keep the toothbrush handle but change only the bristle head. There is thus less material ending up in the landfills. The head section includes an attachment mechanism that is configured to be releasably attached to the tip portion of the toothbrush handle.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application Ser.No. 62/764,358, filed on Jul. 31, 2019 entitled “Eco-ResponsibleToothbrush”, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated in itsentirety at least by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to hygienic implements but moreparticularly to an attachable and detachable head for a toothbrush.

2. Description of Related Art

It is recommended that a person's toothbrush be replaced every threemonths, which creates a lot of plastic toothbrushes in our landfills.There are some “eco-brushes” having a handle made out of bamboo and withbristle made out of a biodegradable material but these are small scaleoperations and don't make much of an impact. Electric toothbrushes haveremovable heads so that a user can replace the bristle without the needto buy a new electric base. There is still a need for a practical easyto operate head changing system for non-electric toothbrushes.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following presents a simplified summary of some embodiments of theinvention in order to provide a basic understanding of the invention.This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is notintended to identify key/critical elements of the invention or todelineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to presentsome embodiments of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude tothe more detailed description that is presented later.

In one aspect of the invention, a toothbrush head replacement system isprovided comprising a toothbrush handle having a tip portion, the tipportion having at least one opening; a head section having a bottomportion and a top portion, wherein the top portion comprises bristlesand the bottom portion comprises a male connection member operable to beattachable and detachable to the at least one opening such that the headsection may be releasably joined and secured to the tip portion of thetoothbrush handle.

In one embodiment, the toothbrush handle is non-electric. In oneembodiment, the male connection member is a bulb member having a stemmember and bulbous member. In one embodiment, the bulbous memberincludes a split sphere forming a “V” shape configured to clasp togetherwhen the bulbous member passes through the at least one opening. In oneembodiment, the at least one opening includes a first beveled seatportion. In one embodiment, the split sphere is configured to separateinto the “V” shape after passing through the at least one opening andsit in the first beveled seat portion. In one embodiment, the at leastone opening includes a second beveled seat portion. In one embodiment,the bulb member further comprises a base member, wherein the base memberis configured to sit in the second beveled seat portion when the headsection is joined and secured to the tip portion of the toothbrushhandle. In one embodiment, the male connection member is a pair of bulbmembers. In another embodiment, the male connection member is operableto be locked to the at least one opening via a 90 degree rotation. Inanother embodiment, the male connection member is a stub member havingan upper section with a pair of tip members extending laterallytherefrom. In another embodiment, the at least one opening includes apair of ramps forming a portion of the at least one opening, wherein thepair of ramps enables progressive tightening of the pair of tip membersas the head section is rotated in the at least one opening.

The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the more pertinent andimportant features of the present disclosure so that the detaileddescription of the invention that follows may be better understood andso that the present contribution to the art can be more fullyappreciated. Additional features of the invention will be describedhereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. Itshould be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conceptionand the disclosed specific methods and structures may be readilyutilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures forcarrying out the same purposes of the present disclosure. It should berealized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent structures donot depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth inthe appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent when the following detailed description is read in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1A-B are top and bottom views of the head section of a toothbrushrespectively, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 1C-D are side views of the head section prior to installation onthe handle and installed on the handle respectively, according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 2A-B are perspective views of the head section prior toinstallation on the handle and installed on the handle respectively,according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 3A-C are top, bottom, and bottom detailed views of the headsection respectively, according to another embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIGS. 4A-C are perspective views of the head section prior toinstallation on the handle and installed on the handle respectively,according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The following description is provided to enable any person skilled inthe art to make and use the invention and sets forth the best modescontemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention. Variousmodifications, however, will remain readily apparent to those skilled inthe art, since the general principles of the present invention have beendefined herein to specifically provide an attachable and detachable headfor a toothbrush.

Referring now to FIGS. 1A-D and FIGS. 2A-B, one embodiment of anattachable and detachable head for a toothbrush is illustrated. In thisembodiment, a toothbrush handle 10 includes a tip portion 11 configuredto receive a head section 12. In one embodiment, the head section iscomprised of a base member 28 and bristles 30. In one embodiment, thebottom portion of the head section (best seen in FIG. 1B), includes atleast one bulb member 14 configured to be releasably attached to atleast one opening 22 positioned on the tip portion 11 of the toothbrushhandle 10. In some embodiments, a pair of bulb members is provided.However, it should be understood that any number of bulb members may beprovided. In one embodiment, the at least one bulb member comprises astem member 16 and a bulbous member 18. In one embodiment, the bulbousmember 18 comprises a split sphere 20 forming a “V” shape 23 enablingthe bulbous member to reduce in size when pushed through opening 22.More specifically, the split sphere 20 comprised of two hemispheres areconfigured to clasp together so as to reduce the size of the splitsphere 20 as it is pushed an opening 22 of the at least one openingpositioned on the tip portion 11 of the handle 10.

When the bulb member, and corresponding split sphere is pushed throughopening 22, the split sphere is configured to separate forming the “V”shape 23, wherein the “V” shape is configured and sized to perfectly fitin a beveled seat portions 24 in the opening 22.

In one embodiment, the bulb member 14 further comprises a base portion26, wherein the base portion is wider than the stem member 16. In oneembodiment, the base portion is wedged shaped such that the base portionis configured to fit in a second beveled portion of the opening (notshown). Both bevel portions on both sides of the tip portion ensure thatthe head section 12 is stable and secure when attached to the handle 10.

Referring now to FIGS. 3A-C and FIGS. 4A-C, an alternate embodiment ofan attachable and detachable head for a toothbrush is illustrated. Thisembodiment is a similar male/female attachment mechanism as the otherembodiment previously discussed, however the engagement securementmethod is different. In this embodiment, the base member 28 of headsection 12 comprises a stub member 32. The stub member having an uppersection with a pair of tip members 34 extending laterally therefrom. Inone embodiment, the stub member 32 is configured and sized to passthrough a complementarily shaped opening 22′ positioned on the tipportion of the toothbrush handle. In one embodiment, opening 22′ allowsthe stub member 32 go through when the head 12 is perpendicularlyoriented relative to the longitudinal axis of the handle 10. Once thestub member 32 is engaged with opening 22′, the head section 12 may betwisted 90 degrees such that the pair of tip members 34 lock ontoposition on the tip portion of the toothbrush handle. To ensure adequatetightening between the base member 28 and the tip portion 11, a pair oframps 36 forming part of the opening 22′ allows for a progressivetightening as the head is twisted (counterclockwise as per FIG. 4B).

Although one stub member 32 is illustrated and described, it should beunderstood that any number of stub members may be provided. Further, theembodiments described herein representing only two of many possibilitiesfor an attachable and detachable head for a toothbrush. Additionally,the invention has been described in considerable detail in languagespecific to structural features, it is to be understood that theinvention defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited tothe specific features described. Rather, the specific features aredisclosed as exemplary preferred forms of implementing the claimedinvention. Stated otherwise, it is to be understood that the phraseologyand terminology employed herein, as well as the abstract, are for thepurpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.Therefore, while exemplary illustrative embodiments of the inventionhave been described, numerous variations and alternative embodimentswill occur to those skilled in the art. Such variations and alternateembodiments are contemplated, and can be made without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention.

It should further be noted that throughout the entire disclosure, thelabels such as left, right, front, back, top, bottom, forward, reverse,clockwise, counter clockwise, up, down, or other similar terms such asupper, lower, aft, fore, vertical, horizontal, oblique, proximal,distal, parallel, perpendicular, transverse, longitudinal, etc. havebeen used for convenience purposes only and are not intended to implyany particular fixed direction or orientation. Instead, they are used toreflect relative locations and/or directions/orientations betweenvarious portions of an object.

In addition, reference to “first,” “second,” “third,” and etc. membersthroughout the disclosure (and in particular, claims) are not used toshow a serial or numerical limitation but instead are used todistinguish or identify the various members of the group.

What is claimed is:
 1. A toothbrush head replacement system comprising:a toothbrush handle having a tip portion, the tip portion having atleast one opening; a head section having a bottom portion and a topportion, wherein the top portion comprises bristles and the bottomportion comprises a male connection member operable to be attachable anddetachable to the at least one opening such that the head section may bereleasably joined and secured to the tip portion of the toothbrushhandle.
 2. The toothbrush head replacement system of claim 1, whereinthe toothbrush handle is non-electric.
 3. The toothbrush headreplacement system of claim 1, wherein the male connection member is abulb member having a stem member and bulbous member.
 4. The toothbrushhead replacement system of claim 3, wherein the bulbous member includesa split sphere forming a “V” shape configured to clasp together when thebulbous member passes through the at least one opening.
 5. Thetoothbrush head replacement system of claim 4, wherein the at least oneopening includes a first beveled seat portion.
 6. The toothbrush headreplacement system of claim 5, wherein the split sphere is configured toseparate into the “V” shape after passing through the at least oneopening and sit in the first beveled seat portion.
 7. The toothbrushhead replacement system of claim 6, wherein the at least one openingincludes a second beveled seat portion.
 8. The toothbrush headreplacement system of claim 7, wherein the bulb member further comprisesa base member, wherein the base member is configured to sit in thesecond beveled seat portion when the head section is joined and securedto the tip portion of the toothbrush handle.
 9. The toothbrush headreplacement system of claim 3, wherein the male connection member is apair of bulb members.
 10. The toothbrush head replacement system ofclaim 1, wherein the male connection member is operable to be locked tothe at least one opening via a 90 degree rotation.
 11. The toothbrushhead replacement system of claim 10, wherein the male connection memberis a stub member having an upper section with a pair of tip membersextending laterally therefrom.
 12. The toothbrush head replacementsystem of claim 11, wherein the at least one opening includes a pair oframps forming a portion of the at least one opening, wherein the pair oframps enables progressive tightening of the pair of tip members as thehead section is rotated in the at least one opening.